Of the significance of jewels, at Musée d’Art Moderne

When Anne Dressen and Michèle Heuzé introduced their exhibition « Medusa, bijoux et tabous » at Musée d’Art moderne de la Ville de Paris, the different themes and political inuendos all seemed a little austere for contemporary jewelry but once inside the exhibition, I found some very funny items. Don’t go there with the idea of seeing precious stones or remarkables designs. Noodles, sweets and Swarowski crystal are more to the point. The underlying story is how jewelry affects our lives socially and whether it is an enemy to women?

Reproduction by Henryk Gaston of a work by Salvador Dali, “Ruby Lips”, 1970-80

Is jewelry too feminine to be art ? Does wearing jewelry forbid women to have power? Is it too precious to only belong to a social elite. How can men wear jewelry ? Can jewelry exist without a body to wear it ? Are sweets and noodle jewelry ? Can custom jewellery be art ? All these themes seem very far fetched and too intellectual for me to enjoy good design and pleasant brooches or rings.

Caroline Broadhead, Rainbow Bangle, 1978

So I tried to navigate around the black heavy cases hiding (rather than showing) the precious pieces of the exhibition and I concentrated on things I had never seen before. Like body piercings for the leg and Michael Jackson’s crystal Glove by Bill Whitten.

I loved the film of “How to make a snow brooch” by Sharon Fitness which disappears of course when the snow melts and the “Ice under-arm” by Naomi Filmer. The Body necklace and profile ornament for Emmy van Leersum were intriguing. As is « The cheater’s ring », with a mirror to reflect playing cards, an 18 th century English invention.

The usual Indian Maharajah’s photographs showing them covered in precious stones are hanging next to a rare 19 th century « Portrait of Prince Romuald Vladislav Konstantinovitch Gledroïtze » showing him wearing myriads of military medals and usually kept at Musée de la Légion d’Honneur.

Prince Romuald Vladislav Konstantinovitch Giedroïtze

And of course, powerful Madeleine Albright smiling with her Peace dove brooch is very strong.

Sharon Fitness, “How to make a snow brooch”, film 2013

All in all, the show of 400 pieces, is interesting if you don’t go there looking for artistic beauty or expensive stones. The title “Medusa” refers to this very pretty and treacherous transparent fish that stings you in the sea. It is strange, full of discoveries, sociologically interesting but not so pleasant nor especially contemporary.

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“ As some of you already know, I have decided to resume what I was writing for Vogue and Point de Vue some years ago, but this time as a blog. I would like it to be like a morning phone call to my best friend, a very personal and subjective view of Paris life for all of you who are curious of what's going on in France. I now have readers on five continents, from the Philippines to Tokyo, Tasmania, Perth and Sydney. From Bogota to Rio de Janeiro, Mexico to California, New York, Washington and Canada. Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Moscow, India and most European countries. Thank you ! ”